Rains hit Renigunta airport, But spare Seshachalam forests

The airport, lifeline of several SEZs in Chittoor and Nellore districts and also buzzing nerve center of Pilgrim town was struck a deadly blow since last two days as the signal system at Tirupati airport at Renigunta has been badly hit by thunderstorm and lightening. That means the radar which directed the take off and landing of the planes in the Tirupati airport is out of action.

As a result, all the planes bound for Tirupati were diverted to Chennai and Bangalore. Hundreds of passengers are stranded at the airport and rains have run havoc in the temple town by flooding the roads, drains, water logging, and also hitting the power supply.The visits of several celebrities and VVIPs have been put on hold due to the unseasonal rains hitting the transport and power system in the temple town

However, the District authorities and the TTD are happy that the heavy rains have helped down the simmering forest fire in the Sheshachalam hilly ranges that had engulfed the Tirumala hills last week. Though the authorities have pushed both fire fighters and also air dropping of foam in heavy fire in the huge bio diversity region, the unseasonal showers have come as a god send to quell the fire in over 4 kms stretch of the Seshachalam forests.